San Mamés museum opens La Promesa exhibition on Athletic’s 1955-56 double | OneFootball

Athletic Club’s museum at San Mamés has opened a temporary exhibition, La Promesa, celebrating the 1955-56 League and Cup double achieved by the 'once aldeanos' under Ferdinand Daucik. According to El Correo, it revisits one of the club’s most storied eras.

That season Athletic edged Barcelona by one point in the league, then beat Atlético 2-1 in the Copa final with goals from Artetxe and Maguregi. The museum attracted more than 160,000 visitors in 2025 and now offers an expanded look at that campaign.

Recently re-elected president Jon Uriarte used the opening to call the period an example for the future, and to back an Athletic unafraid of challenges. He was joined by vice-president Jon Ruigómez, club greats José Ángel Iribar and Andoni Goikoetxea, and Lander Iraragorri from that squad. Many supporters still recite the XI of Carmelo, Orue, Garay, Canito, Mauri, Etura, Artetxe, Uribe, Arieta, Koldo Agirre and Gainza.

Iraragorri, now 91, recalled playing little because goalkeeper Carmelo Cedrún was immovable, and said the Bernabéu Copa triumph will never fade. The exhibition takes its name from Daucik’s pledge after the 1955 Cup win to return with League and Cup the following year, a promise he kept.

The 'once aldeanos' would later lift the 1958 Copa against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, yet the 1955-56 double, 70 years on, remains a defining feat. On display are the two trophies lifted by Gainza, plus images and drawings of the squad and staff, including Patxi Garate and Perico Birichinaga, who rose from club messenger to first-team coach.

The collection also features player cards, K-Toño Frade’s 1970s illustrations for the club magazine, a ticket from the Athletic-Barcelona title decider that sparked four days of queues, and a video of archive moments. The exhibition pays tribute to the supporters who filled San Mamés week after week that season.

Source: El Correo